Who We Are
NMI is the global missions advocate in every local church, nurturing a spirit of missions, and mobilizing into action, impacting people around the world.
We Are One People
ADVOCATING, NURTURING, MOBILIZING AND IMPACTING THE WORLD through the Five Areas of Impact.
We encourage people to pray for all missions efforts of the Church of the Nazarene. We engage children and youth in learning about and participating in the mission of God. We provide care and connection between missionaries and local churches of the Nazarene. We inform others of the world’s need and how the church is responding through the World Evangelism Fund. We lay the foundation through Alabaster offerings for places where people worship, heal and learn.
Our History
In response to Christ’s Great Commission, missionary organizations were established by various groups and denominations. Nazarene Missions International (NMI) traces its origin primarily to the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (APCA), when in April 1899, the Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS) was founded.
The WMS was officially recognized as an auxiliary organization of the Church of the Nazarene in 1915 at the fourth General Assembly. It was recommended that there be an organization in each local church to increase knowledge and interest in missions by prayer, by obtaining special speakers, and by keeping in touch with the missionaries; and to cooperate with the (local) Church Board in raising their apportionments (for missions).
The first General WMS Convention was held in June 1928; and it was at that Convention, the General Council members were elected by the Convention (prior to that the Council was elected by members of the General Assembly).
The name of the ministry has changed over the course of its history: 1928—Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS), 1952—Nazarene Foreign Missionary Society (reflecting the introduction of men, youth, and children into the organization), 1964—Nazarene World Missionary Society, 1980—Nazarene World Mission Society (reflecting the international aspect of the organization), and 2001—Nazarene Missions International (NMI).
The purpose of NMI shall be to mobilize the Church of the Nazarene in missions through 1) praying, 2) giving, 3) educating, and 4) engaging children and youth.
NMI Logo
Prayer, WEF, Alabaster, and Engaging Children and Youth are represented in our logo by the four different-colored sections meeting together in a circle. Connecting churches and missionaries through Links is represented by the lines coming together, unifying our focus as we are united in our vision. The full circle reminds us we are a global (international) organization with actions and impact affecting the entire world. The intersecting lines form a cross at the center because the message of the Cross is the main focus of NMI as we tell the story.
NMI General Facts
The Church of the Nazarene ministers in 165 world areas with Belgium on the Eurasia Region recognized in 2024.
The number of Nazarene churches increased to 30,747 churches, with over 2.72 million members, active in 165 world areas or countries.
In 2023, there were 472 districts and 30 pioneer areas around the world, with 31,354 credentialed clergy.